Took this tour on my first full day in Edinburgh. James was so nice and knowledgeable. We covered a lot of ground in the city and he gave great recommendations for food, other sights, and shopping. Highly recommend taking this tour to help you acclimate to the city.
Edinburgh - Old Town Stories





At a glance
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Price from
- $24 / person
- Location
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 71 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 30
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- All-Star Guides
- Meeting point
- Our meeting point is in WEST Parliament Square, in front of St. Giles Cathedral. Search for the white umbrella with the logo of All-Star Guides.
Description
The perfect introduction to the city. Your guide will lead you through Old Town Edinburgh, where you'll be introduced not only to the most famous landmarks, but also to some of the hidden gems that make our beloved city so special. You'll learn about the origins of Scotland and Edinburgh, hear the stories of our illustrious citizens and (in)famous residents, wander among graves and through cobbled streets, always in the company of a knowledgeable and personable guide. Not to be missed!
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 8
- Adult (ages 16–60)
- $24
- Senior (ages 61+)
- $20
- Child (ages 6–15)
- $16
- Infant (ages 0–5)
- Free
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The perfect introduction to the history of Scotland and Edinburgh in particular. Wander around Old Town Edinburgh in the company of an expert guide, and hear about the origins of Scotland and its capital.
Walk around St. Giles Cathedral and hear about its history, John Knox and the Reformation, and how the Wars of the Three Kingdoms may have started.
Hear about the architecture of the city, and the impact of the Great Fire of 1824.
Walk up the Royal Mile, and hear about important long-gone buildings, as well as some of the surrounding landmarks and statues.
Hear about one of the city's oldest standing buildings, now home to the Writer's Museum, dedicated to some of the most famous Scottish Writers.
Without a doubt the most imposing building in the city. Hear about its origins and importance.
Hear about the former gallows site, as well as some of the characters that met their fate there. Hear about the Covenanters and visit the Memorial.
Visit the gates of the Covenanters Prison, and hear about one of the most convoluted periods of history. Hear about the bodysnatching activity in Edinburgh and its impact in the studies of anatomy. Finally, listen to the heart-warming story of Greyfriars Bobby.
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
How it compares in Edinburgh
- Rated higher than 79% of 440 reviewed tours in Edinburgh
- Starting price $24 is 62% below the typical $64 for tours of similar length in Edinburgh
Excurgo comparison of 1,235 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Edinburgh - Old Town Stories take?
Edinburgh - Old Town Stories lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 8 stops.
How much does Edinburgh - Old Town Stories cost?
Prices start at $24 per person for this Edinburgh experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Edinburgh - Old Town Stories run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
How much does Edinburgh - Old Town Stories cost for children?
Children aged 6–15 pay from $16, adults from $24. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Edinburgh - Old Town Stories for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Our meeting point is in WEST Parliament Square, in front of St. Giles Cathedral. Search for the white umbrella with the logo of All-Star Guides. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Edinburgh - Old Town Stories offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(71)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Booked this tour because I liked the framing of small group size and the focus on stories—and really glad I did (there were some huge other tours!). Our guide clearly knew his stuff and cared deeply, and he was great at being flexible and conversational while sharing information. He also answered our questions well and gave great recommendations for other things to do around the city. The only thing to flag is that it was a bit hard to find them, since there were many tours departing from the same place, and I hadn’t received the welcome email.
Keiran was very knowledgeable about the history of Edinburgh. Was the only person on the tour and throughly enjoy it
Robert is an EXCELLENT guide who knows plenty of stories and knows how to tell the history of Edinburgh and Scotland in general! We had an excellent time and highly recommend him!
The tour was excellent. Robert, the guide was personable, entertaining and knowledgeable. A bonus was that, in the very warm weather, he always knew where to find some restful shade!
My tour with guide Keiran was a really extraordinary experience. Never had such an interesting tour in my life. He wrapped his tour around stories and people. Was a treasure listening to him. Can really recommend this guy 🤗
Excellent! We went on our first day in Edinburgh and it gave u a great overview of the history.
For some reason, I was the only one on the tour that Thursday afternoon. But that meant I got to enjoy a very in-depth and detailed tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town for over two hours. The guide shared insightful and fascinating stories, and I got to see many of the city’s beautiful sights. I highly recommend it.
Really enjoyable tour, Kieran was engaging and able to answer questions, so many intersting facts, I'll have to opt for the three hour tour next time
I had a fantastic experience with James as my tour guide. I happened to be the only one and had a private tour with James. Two hours just flew by. Highly recommend!
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